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February 17, 2014
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.
THEIR HILL TO DIE ON
SWITZERLAND JONAS HILLER ANY TIME THE SWISS EXCEL ON THE international stage, goaltending is always front and center. When Switzerland upset Russia at the world juniors in 2010, Nino Niederreiter led the offense, but Benjamin Conz was the star with 50 saves on the night. And Canadians will never forget Martin Gerber’s performance at the 2006 Olympics when he stopped 49 shots to blank Canada 2-0. So if the Swiss are going to do damage in Sochi, Jonas Hiller will have to stand tall. Fortunately, he’s been doing just that all season for the Ducks, going 24-7-4, including winning 14 straight decisions at one point, and helping Anaheim become the class of the league. “Every time you play him,” says defenseman Francois Beauchemin, “you know he is going to make the big save…
CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL
THE TELEVISION REPORTER FRAMEDthe question as if he already knew how Joe Thornton would react after not being selected for Canada’s Olympic team earlier that Jan. 7 morning. Could he, the reporter asked, try to put his disappointment into words? Surprise. The sometimes-surly Thornton went in another direction. “You look at the roster and Canada’s really stacked,” he said. “I’ve had the privilege of playing in the Olympics and the World Cup. It is such a hard team to make. They have so many good players to choose from. What can I say? I hope they bring back the gold.” If Team Canada didn’t want the NHL’s assist leader on its roster, so be it. Less than three weeks later, Thornton, 34, landed a nice consolation prize: a three-year, $20.3-million contract extension…
HEAVY LIES THE CROWN
SWEDEN HENRIH LUNDQVIST SOMETIMES AN ELITE NHL GOALTENDER HAS far more to deflect and absorb than just enemy pucks. Consider the high-profile life of Henrik Lundqvist, who’s in his ninth season with the Rangers. When the face of the franchise arrived at training camp, approaching the final season of his contract, negotiations on a new multi-year pact were crawling along. Lundqvist, 31, tired of the media questions, said just before opening night he wouldn’t address the negotiations further. Eventually, he signed a seven-year, $59.5-million extension, which carries an $8.5-million cap hit and pays him until age 39. At the start of the season, he seemed jittery and was torched in parts of the Rangers’ brutal nine-game opening road trip. New coach Alain Vigneault and his staff installed a defensive system that relied far less…
ROMAN PAYS REVERENCE
AS HE HONES HIS SKILLS ALONGSIDE one of the planet’s best defensemen, Roman Josi is thankful for a pioneer, countryman and current Philadelphia Flyers blueliner who helped pave the way for Swiss players like him in the NHL. “At first there were only goalies coming over, but the first (skater) to really make it was Mark Streit,” Josi said. “He really opened the doors for all the young players in Switzerland. He had a tough first season, but fought through it.” Josi’s path to North American hockey was different than Streit’s, who was 27 when he played his first NHL game. Josi, 23, was drafted by Nashville in the second round (38th overall) in 2008, played a season in the American League in 2010-11 to acclimate to the smaller ice surface,…
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